The Spanish verb 'alabar' (to praise) has an interesting etymology that traces back to Latin. It comes from the Latin verb 'alapari' meaning 'to boast' or 'to praise', which itself derived from the Latin noun 'alapa' meaning 'a slap' or 'ritual blow'. The semantic evolution from a physical action to verbal praise might seem unusual, but it likely developed from the Roman custom of ceremonial slapping during certain rituals, which eventually became associated with formal recognition and praise.

A common related Spanish word is 'alabanza' (praise, worship), which is directly derived from 'alabar'. You might also encounter 'alabado' (praised), which is the past participle of 'alabar' and is often used in religious contexts.

While there aren't any common English words directly related to 'alabar', English speakers might recognize its meaning through similar-sounding words like 'elaborate' or 'labor', though these actually have different etymological origins. The concept is perhaps best associated with English words like 'praise' or 'laud', even though they're not etymologically related.